Cash-register.



G. WEAR. CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7; 1912.

Patented Dec. 3, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WiiifiSSe C. WEAR.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1912.

1 ,O46,353. Patented De,c.3,1912.

2 SfiEETS-SHEET 2.

2 M 76 f? a 85 J0 a g 46 J5 6/ 6'5 h o A 4 8 6'6 65 MGM ' UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE,

CHARLES WEA 0F MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, 'AssIGNoR '10 MORRIS CASH REGISTERCOMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

CAS1I-REGISTER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES {VEAR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Cash-Registers, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in ing arranged above theformer,- and the ink-ribbon is reflexed to extend over the severalcheck-strips, and also between the check-strips and the record-strip,and the ends of said ribbon are connected with or are arranged upon apair of rolls which are located at one side of the row of strips, andsaid ribbon passes over a roll which is 1.0-

cated at the other side of said row of strips,,

and push-rods, corresponding in number to the number ofcheck-strips, areemployed to feed forward the check-strip and the recordstrip which isassociated therewith. Also in said apparatus means are provided formoving the ink-ribbon intermitt-ingly by a movement of the type-writingcarriage, to presentfresh surfaces to be impressed by the types, whichadmitof its being disengaged from its actuator to admit of thetype-writing carriage being returned without moving said ribbon, andsaid means is also arranged to be reversed to cause the ribbon to movein the opposite direct-ion. Moving the inkribboniby the type-writingcarriage is objectionable. In the present invention said ribbon ismovedby means operated by any of the ush-rods, intermittlngly but progressivey, and is, therefore, independent of the type writing carriage, andautomatic "means are provided for reversing the move- .ment of theribbonfso that after it has been Specification of Letters Patent.Application filed August '7, 1912. Serial No. 713,741.

Patented Dec, 3, 1912.

drawn from one spool andwound upon the other, its direction of movementmay be reversed, in order that it may be drawn from the spool upon whichit has been wound and wound ,upon the spool from which it was drawn. Incarryin out this feature of my invention intermittingly butprogressively operating driving-mechanism is provided, adapted to beoperatedby any of the pushrods,-and clutches are provided for connectingeither ribbon-spool with said drivingmechanism' and at the same time fordisconnecting the other spool therefrom, and reversing-means is'providedfor the ribbonspools adapted to be operated by the drivingmechanism andshifted by an axial movement of the spools and controlled by the ribbonon the spools, so that when the ribbon has been withdrawn from eitherspool, said spool is moved axially in one direction for connection withthe driving-mechanism and the other spool moved axially in the otherdirection for disconnection therefrom.

. Figure 1 is a plan view of a cash-registerhavingmeans embodying thisinvention for supporting and feeding forward the inkribbon. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3is an enlarged front view of the ink-ribbon and actuating-meanstherefor. Fig. 4: is an end view of the ink-ribbon actuating-means. Fig.5 is a detail of the shifting-lever for the spools and means to hold itinyielding frictional engagement therewith. Fig. 6 is a detail of theclutch-mechanism connecting the drivingmechanism for the ink-ribbon withthe strip-feeding mechanism.- Fig. 7

is a detail of the clutch-mechanism connecting the strip-feedingmechanism with its actuator.

The push-rods are represented at 65 as reciprocable and arrangedhorizontally and in parallel relation with each other. rods, .whenthrust inward, operate means to draw narrow strips of paper 53, hereintermed check-strips, from rolls 66 and feed them forward, (see Fig.2),and also operate means to rotate a 1011,50, thereby to draw a wide stripof paper 46, herein termed a record-strip, from a roll 47, and wind itupon said roll-50. The record-strip 46 passes over a platen or M1143;and the check-strips pass over rolls 58. and thence.

formed on. them, for a short distance at their inner ends, and the racktoothed portions of the rods engage toothed-gears 63,

which in turn engage pinions 61, (see F ig.

' 7), mounted loosely on the shaft bearing the rolls 58, and the hubs ofsaid pinions have clutch-members 62, which are pressed by springs intoengagement with fellow clutchmembers 64 on thehubs of the rolls 58, sothat said pinions may bemoved rotarily in opposite directions tointermittingly but progressively advance the rolls 5S and feed forwardthe check-strips.

Four check-strips are herein employed,

which are arranged. in a row, consequently four push-rods 65 areprovided, each rod having means to feed forward its checkstripseparately, as desired, and the recordstrip which is employed is madewide enough to include'all said check strips and also preferably toprovide a portion at one side which extends beyond the endof the row ofcheck-strips An inking-ribbon 100 is arranged to move between therecordstrip and check-strips and also above the check-strips, and'theplates which are arranged about a portion of the platen have holesthrough them so that upon depression of any one of a set of pivotedtype-bars 78, by means of its pivoted actuating-member 85, a record willbe printed upon the checkstrip andalso. upon the record-strip.

The type-bars are borne by a carriage which. is movable transverselywith respect to-the machine to bring the type-bars into proper positionto print upon any of the check-strips, and, as four check-strips arehere shown, said carriage has four positions into which it may bebrought. for operation. VVhen the ribbon is arranged for operation by arack-bar, or other means connected with the carriage, as represented inthe aforesaid patent, it will be noted that as the carriage is movedfrom one to another cheek-strip,said ribbon will be corresponds inglyand unnecessarily moved, hence the desirability of providing means foroperating the ribbon which is independent of the carriage.

The mechanism embodying this invention to support and to feed forwardthe ink-ribbon will now be described. 300 represents a pinion mountedloosely on a shaft 301, (see Figs. 4 and 6), and connected by aclutchwith said shaft, substantially in'the manner shown in Fig. 7 wherebysaid shaft 301 is rotatedintermitt-ingly but progressively by thepinion, and said pinion 300 is engaged by the toothed gear 63, see Fig.2), which is engaged by the longitudinally reciprocat ing push-rod, sothat the shaft 301 is operated by the push-rod. Said shaft 301 isarranged horizontally and in, parallel relation with the front of themachine. said shaft 301, there are several pinions 300, one for eachgear 63, and push-rod; Said shaft 301 serves as the driving-shaft forthe driving-mechanism of the ink-ribbon, and, as here shown, said shafthas secured to it a bevel-gear 303, which engages a bevel-gear 304,secured to a shaft 305, arranged horizontally and at right angles to theshaft 301, and said shaft 305 bears a bevel-gear 306, which engages abevel-gear 307, secured to a vertical shaft 308, bearing two bevelgears309 and 310. The gear 309, engages a bevel-gear 312, (see Fig. 3),secured to a horizontal shaft 313, bearing a bevel-gear 314:, whichengages a bevel-gear 315, secured to a horizontal shaft 316. Thebevel-gear 310, engages the bevel-gear 320, secured to a horizontalshaft 321. Said bevel-gears 309 and 310 are disposed on the verticalshaft 308 in opposite ways so as to drive the shafts 316 and 321 inopposite directions. Two spools 325, 320, to which the ends of thereflexed ink-ribbon are attached are mounted respectively upon saidshafts 316 and 321,.

for engagement with fellow-members secured respectively to said shafts316 and 321, so that said spools are adapted for engage ment with anddisengagement from their shafts. Said spools are normally disposed withone of'them in engagement with its shaft, and the other free fromengagement with its shaft, so that one spool is positively driven ,todraw the inkribbon' from the other spool by winding said ribbon upon thepositively driven spool, and, it will be noted,

that each time any of the push-rods are pressed .inward the drivingmechanism for the rlbbon-spools 1s operated lntermittingly butprogressively, and the ribbon is correspondingly moved. When the ribbonhas been withdrawn from one of the spools and wound. upon the other itis necessary toreverse its direction of movement, and, herein, thisresult is accomplish-ed automatically by disengaging one of the spoolsfrom its shaft and engaging the other spool with its shaft.

As here shown, each shaft 316 and 321 has secured to it a worm 330, 331,and-each spool carries a detent-arm 332, 333, pivotally supported on thespool, the outer" ends of said detent-arms being arranged for engagementwith said worms and the inner ends of said arms being extended acrossthe space between the heads of the spools. The pressure of the ribbonupon the-inner ends of said arms acts to depress said ends, thereby tolift their outer ends free from engageise ment with the worms, andsprings are employed for moving their outer ends into engagement withthe worms when pressure upon their inner ends is relieved, as forinstance, upon withdrawal of the ink-ribbon from thespool. Asrepresented in Fig. 4, the ink-ribbon has been withdrawn from the spool326, and wound upon the spool 325, hence the detent-arm moved intoongagement with the worm 331, and the detent-arm 332 is disengaged fromits worm 330, and as the shaft bearing said worm is-rotated with thedetent-arm in engagement with the worm. the spool bearing said arm ismoved axially and its clutchmember 328 moved into engagement with itsfellow-clutchmember, thus connecting said spool with its shaft.

A rocking-bar 340, pivoted at 341, at a point intermediate its length,is arranged at the one end of the two ribbon spools, the ends of saidbar. respectively engaging the hubs of said spools, and said baris heldby means of a spring 342, connected to its pivot, (see Fig. 5), infrictional engagement with said hubs, so as to retard rotary movement ofthe spools, thereby to prevent their too free rotation, although saidbar is provided more particularly to serve as a means whereby eachspool, when moved axially will in turn move the'other spool aXi-,

ally; When the spool 326,.(see Fig. 4), is

moved axially, in a direction toward the left to cause its clutchmembers to engage, said rocking-bar is moved onits pivot, thereby to movethe spool 325 axially in the opposite direction, and cause itsclutchmembers to disengage, thereby disconnecting said spool 325 fromits shaft, and when the spool 325 is moved axially in a direction towardthe left said operation is reversed. Thus when either spool is movedaxially in a direction toward theleft, for engagement with its shaft,the other spool is moved axially in the opposite direetionfordisengagement from its shaft. Said rocking bar.

' is held in either position it'may be caused to occupy, by means of anarm 345, secured thereto and having its free end made V- shaped andarranged for engagement with a V-shaped block 346, on the frame, the armoccupying a position at one or the otherside of said block according'tothe position of the rocking-bar, it passing over said block when saidbar is moved. however, not limited to the particular form ofdriving-mechanism for the spools, or the means here shown for shiftingthe positions of the: spools .on their shafts, or

controlling their operation.

I claim: 1. In a eash-register,the combination of a platen over which aplurality of checkstrips arra'ngedside by side are adapted to be fed, anink-ribbonarranged over the sev- My invention,

2. In a cash-register, the combination of a platen over which arecord-strip and a plurality of check-strips arranged side by side areadapted to be fed, a reflexed inkribbon arranged over the check-stripsand between the checlrstrips and the recordstrip, a carriage providedwith typewriting mechanism, said carriage being movable to positionsopposite the several check-strips, a plurality of push-rods, one foreach checkstrip, and means operated by each push-rod to feed forward therecord-strip and a checkstrip, and means also operated by each pushrodto move the ink-ribbon, substantially as described.

3. In a cash-register, the combination ofa platen over which arecord-strip and a plurality of check-strips arranged side by side areadapted to be fed, a reflexedinkribbon arranged over the check-stripsand between the check-strips and the recordstrip, a carriage providedwith typewriting mechanism, said carriage being movable to positionsopposite the several check-strips, a plurality of push-rods, one foreaehcheekstrip, and means operated by each push-rod I to feed forwardthe record-strip and aeheckstrip, and means also operated by eachpushrod to move theink-ribbon, said means involving reversing-meanswhereby the inkvribbon is moved first in one and then in the otherdirection, substantially as described.

4. In a cash-register, the combination of a platen over which aplurality of checkstrips'arranged side by side are adapted to be fed, acarriage provided with typewritling mechanism, said carriage beingmovable to positions opposite the several check-strips, an ink-ribbonarrangedover the several check-strips a pair of spools forthe ends ofthe ribbon, driving-mechanism for said spools, a plurality ofpush-rods,'one for each check-strip, means operated by each pushrod tofeed forward a check-strip, and means also operated by each push-rod foroperating the driving-mechanism for the ribbonspools, substantially asdescribed.

In a cash-register, the combination of i a platen over which a pluralityof check-- strips arranged side by side are adapted to be fed, acarriage provided with typewritdngmechanism', said carriage beingmovable to positions opposite the several check-strips,

.an ink ribbon arranged over the several check-strips, a pair of spoolsfor the ends of the ribbon, driving mechanism for said spools, meansconnecting said spools with the driving-mechanism involvingreversingmeans for the spools. a plurality of pushrods, one for eachcheck-strip. and means operated by each push-rod to feed forward acheck-strip, and means also operated by each push-rod for operating thedrivingmechanism for the ribbon-spools, substantially as described.

6. In a cash-register, the combination with a typewriting carriagebearing types, and operating-means for said types, a platen over which astrip of paper passes, supporting-means for the strip of paper. means tosupport an ink-ribbon over the strip of paper involving two axiallymovable spools, driving-mechanism for said spools, a push-rod, meansoperated by the push-rod to feed forward the strip of paper and alsoactuate said driving-mechanism, and means controlled by the ribbon onthe spools and operated by the dliving-mechanism to move said spoolsaxially into and out of engagement with the drivingmechanism,substantially as described.

7. In a cash-register, the combination with 'a typewriting carriagebearing types, and operating-means for said types, a

platen over which a strip of paper passes, supporting'means for thestrip of paper, means to supportan ink-ribbon over the strip of paperinvolving two axially movable spools, driving-mechanism for said spools,a push-rod, means operated by the push-rod to feed forward the strip ofpaper and also actuate said driving-mechanism, and means controlled bythe ribbon on the spools and operated. by the driving-mechanism to movesaid spools axially for engagement with the driving-mechanism, andmeansoperated by either spool, when moved axially to engage thedriving-mechanism, to move the other spool axially in the oppositedirection to disconnect it from the drivingmechanism, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a cash-register, the combination with a typewriting carriagebearing types, and operating-means for said types, a platen over which astrip of paper passes, supporting-means for the strip of paper, means tosupport an ink-ribbon over the strip of paper involving two axiallymovable spools, drivingmechanism for said spools involvlng twooppositely rotatable shafts which support said spools, clutches toconnect said spools with their shafts, worms on the shafts, levers borneby the spools for engagement with said worms, said l'evers beingcontrolled by the ribbon on the spools, a

push-rod, and means operated by the pushrod to feed forward the strip ofpaperand also actuate said driving-mechanism, substantially asdescribed.

9. In a cash-register, the combination with a typewritlng carriagebearing types, and

operating-means for said types, a platen over which a strip of paperpasses, supporting-means for the strip of paper, means to support an inkribbon over the strip of paper involving two axially movable spools,driving-mechanism for said spools involving two oppositely rotatableshafts for said spools, clutches to connect said spools with theirshafts, worms on the shafts, levers borne by the spools for engagementwith said worms, said levers being arranged for engagement wit-h theribbon on the spools, a cross-bar pivoted intermediate its lengtlntheends of which are arranged for engagement respectively with the spools,by which axial movement of either spool in one direction. is imparted tothe other spool in the opposite direct-ion, a push-rod, and meansoperated by said push-rod to feed forward the strip of paper and alsoactuate said driving-mechanism, substantially as described.

10. In a. cash-register, the combination with a typewriting carriagebearing types. and operating-meansfdr said types, a platen over which astrip of paper passes, supporting-means for the strip of paper, means tosupport an ink-ribbon over the strip ot'"pa per involving two axiallymovable spools, driving-mechanism for said spools involving twooppositely rotatable shafts for said spools, clutches to connect saidspools with their shafts, worms on the shafts, levers borne by thespools for engagement with said worms, said levers being arranged forengagement with the ribbon on the spools, a cross-bar'pivotedintermediate its length, the endsof which are arranged for engagementrespectively with the spools, by which axial movement of either spool inone direction is imparted to the other spool in the opposite direction,a spring connected with said cross-bar to hold either end thereof inengagement with its spool, a puslrrod, and means operated by saidpush-rod to feed forward the strip of paper and also actuate saiddriving-mechanism, substantially as described.

11. In a cash-register, the combination with a reciprocatingtype-writing. carriage bearing types and operating-means for said types,a platen over which a record-strip and a plurality of check-strips pass,the checkstrips being arranged abovethe record-strip, means to suportsaid strips, push-rods, and means operated by said push-rods to feedforward said strips, a reflexed ink-ribbon arranged over thecheck-strips and between oppositely rotatable shafts bearing said onwhich said spools are movable axially, means to connect and. disconnectsaid spools with their shafts upon axial movement thereof, and meansoperated by spools,

any of the push-rods for actuating said driving-mechanism, substantiallyas described.

'12, In a cash-register, the combination with a reciprocatingtype-writing carriage bearing. types and operating-means for said types,aplaten over which a record-strip and a plurality of check-strips pass,the checkstrips being arranged above the recordstrip, means to supportsaid strips, pushrods and means operated by said push-rods said spoolsare axially movable, clutches for connecting said spools with saidshafts, means operated by the driving-mechanism and controlled by theribbon on the spools for moving the spools axially in oppositedirections to connect one spool with its shaft and disconnect the otherspool: from its shaft, and means operated by any of the push-rods foractuating said driving-mechanism, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES WEAR. Witnesses:

MARY E. Rose, 7 B. H. WHITE,

Copies of thisjpatent may be obtainedfor five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner oi vPatents,

' Washington, D. 0.

